A 49-year-old Brevard County woman was arrested over the weekend after she allegedly attacked a cat to “get back” at one of her relatives.
Shortly after 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, a Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a local Publix in reference to a “runaway juvenile.” The deputy made contact with the girl and brought her back home to her mother, identified as Sara Ruth Jenkins, according to the arrest report.
Less than an hour later, a neighbor contacted BCSO to report that Jenkins and her daughter were “screaming and yelling” at each other inside their residence. The same deputy responded to the home and made contact with Jenkins and her daughter.
The report stated that Jenkins “spontaneously uttered that the cat attacked her.” However, the daughter claimed that Jenkins had “attacked the cat first.”
The deputy noted in the report that the incident was captured on video. The footage showed Jenkins “pushing a Christmas tree down” as the cat, named Mila, ran away from it.
Jenkins then allegedly chased Mila into the dining room area, behind a couch, and the cat began “whining loudly” while evading her.
On the footage, Jenkins was observed grabbing Mila near the fallen Christmas tree. She then allegedly held Mila “by the neck/head” before lifting the cat above her head, according to the report.
Moments later, Jenkins allegedly “slammed Mila onto the solid ground,” and the deputy noted that the force of the impact caused the cat to “bounce after contact.” Mila attempted to escape, and Jenkins reportedly chased her down while saying, “This cat is a little (expletive).”
The report said that Jenkins then picked up Mila and struck the cat several times in the head. The incident ended when Jenkins’ daughter was able to pick up Mila and flee from the residence.
During the incident, the daughter was screaming and begging Jenkins to stop attacking Mila, according to the report.
After being advised of her Miranda rights, Jenkins claimed that she “accidentally dropped [Mila] from around chest level” when the cat allegedly “bit” her. She reportedly told the deputy that she “did not slam [the cat] or anything.”
When Jenkins was shown the video footage, she allegedly reiterated that Mila “was attacking her.” However, the deputy mentioned in the report that Mila “was actively trying to get away from [Jenkins] during the entirety of the video.”
Mila survived the attack and is currently under the care of local veterinarians, according to Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey. The sheriff added that Mila is undergoing a series of tests to determine the extent of the damage sustained in the attack.
Jenkins was arrested and booked into Brevard County Jail at around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 21. She was released after posting bond, which had been set at $2,500, and she is being charged with animal cruelty resulting in serious physical injury.
Jail records show that Jenkins is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, March 17.